Dinesh Karthik supports Jacob Bethell to replace Ollie Pope at No. 3 in England’s Test batting lineup. According to Karthik, Bethell is the next big one to watch out for” in English cricket.
On the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast Live from Lord’s, Karthik mentioned Bethell’s adaptability, drive, and maturity, saying he could be England’s future top-order player. “I am a bit biased, I would pick him (Bethell), I would bat him at No. 3,” said Karthik, who coaches batting for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Bethell’s IPL team. “Right now, I would pick him over Ollie Pope, but if you are an England coach, Pope made a 100 in the last game.”
Pope’s inconsistent form is a concern, even after his century in the first match. He scored only eight runs in the second innings at Headingley, followed by a duck and 24 at Edgbaston, as England lost by 336 runs.
Karthik thinks Bethell’s versatility makes him a great option. “You can bat Bethell almost anywhere from No. 3 to No. 7; he is ready. In the IPL, we chose him because he can open, bat at three, or in the middle order.”
“I liked how he could take information and quickly use it in his game. He is very young, driven, and dedicated to cricket. He is focused and wants to succeed and be the best—if that’s your goal, you can’t go wrong,” he said.
While Bethell’s potential is the focus, England’s captain Ben Stokes faces more examination. After Jasprit Bumrah’s rest did not work out for India in the first Test, India captain Shubman Gill responded with 269 and 161 at Edgbaston to lead his team to a historic win.
This has put more pressure on Stokes, who has not scored much in the series. “Now Stokes has to think a lot and needs to score some runs, to be honest,” said Nasser Hussain. “The other captain is getting loads of runs, and Stokes hasn’t been scoring. So, he is under pressure,” he said.
However, Hussain praised Stokes’ leadership and emotional intelligence. “England players enjoy playing for Ben Stokes, but he is also tough. I spoke to Jurgen Klopp, who said leadership is about being their friend but not their best friend. I think Stokes understands that.”
